About Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) requirements for iPhone

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) requirements for digital wireless phones. See the HAC ratings for iPhone devices that are hearing-aid compatible under FCC rules and learn about using iPhone with hearing aids.

Most iPhone devices are hearing-aid compatible with a broad range of hearing aids under the FCC requirements for hearing-aid compatibility (HAC). You can use Made for iPhone hearing aids with many iPhone models as well.

Based on testing conducted by an independent laboratory following the ANSI standard C63.19, "American National Standard for Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids."

Requires iOS 7 or later and a Made for iPhone Hearing Aid. Please confirm support for your model iPhone with your heading aid manufacturer.

With Hearing Aid mode activated (iOS 5 and later, see below for more information).

Learn what the HAC ratings mean

The FCC hearing aid compatibility rules require that certain phones be tested and rated under the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) C63.19 hearing-aid compatibility standards. The ANSI standard for hearing-aid compatibility contains two types of ratings:

These ratings are on a scale from one to four, where four is the most compatible. A phone is considered hearing-aid compatible under the FCC requirements if it's rated M3 or M4 for acoustic coupling and T3 or T4 for inductive coupling.

Hearing-aid compatibility ratings aren't a guarantee that a particular hearing aid works well with a particular phone. Some hearing aids might work well with phones that do not meet the FCC requirements for Hearing Aid Compatibility. To ensure that a particular hearing aid works well with a particular phone, use them together before purchasing.

About Hearing-aid compatibility and newer wireless technologies

Each iPhone with a HAC rating has been tested and rated for use with hearing aids for some of the wireless technologies that it uses. However, there may be some newer wireless technologies used in this phone that haven't been tested yet for use with hearing aids. It is important to try the different features of this phone thoroughly and in different locations, using your hearing aid or cochlear implant, to determine if you hear any interfering noise. Consult your service provider or the manufacturer of this phone for information on hearing-aid compatibility. If you have questions about return or exchange policies, consult your service provider or phone retailer.

Get the best experience with a hearing aid

Cellular telephones contain radio transmitters that may interfere with hearing aid performance. To ensure that a particular hearing aid works well with a particular phone, use them together before making a purchase. If you already own an iPhone and a hearing aid, here are some tips to ensure that you have the best experience possible.

iPhone and hearing aids generally work best together in "M" or Acoustic Coupling mode. To use your hearing aid in this mode, make sure that your hearing aid is set to "M," or Acoustic Coupling mode, and position the iPhone receiver near the hearing aid’s built-in microphone (or microphones). In other words, hold your iPhone against your head as you would naturally hold the phone when making a telephone call. The hearing aid will receive audio from the iPhone through its built-in microphones. For the best results, try using the iPhone in different positions relative to your hearing aid—for example, placing the receiver slightly above the ear may result in better performance for hearing aids with microphones positioned behind the ear. If you have an iPhone 4 (GSM model), activate Hearing Aid Mode (see below).

If Acoustic Coupling does not produce a satisfactory result, try using your hearing aid in "T," or telecoil coupling mode. To use your hearing aid in this mode, make sure that your hearing aid is set to "T," or telecoil coupling mode (not all hearing aids have this mode). If you have an iPhone 5 or later, activate Hearing Aid Mode (see below).

Activate hearing aid mode

To activate Hearing Aid Mode on iPhone 4 (GSM model) with iOS 5 or later, go to Settings > General > Accessibility. Hearing Aid Mode on the iPhone 4 (GSM model) reduces the transmission power of the cellular radio in the GSM 1900 MHz band, which may result in decreased 2G cellular coverage.

To activate Hearing Aid mode on iPhone 5 or later, go to Settings > General > Accessibility. Hearing Aid mode on the iPhone 5 modifies the phone’s acoustic settings to improve compatibility with hearing aids set in "T" or telecoil mode.

About Made for iPhone hearing aids

Apple has worked with top manufacturers to create hearing aids designed specifically for iPhone. These hearing aids deliver a power-efficient, high-quality digital audio experience and allow you to manage your hearing aid right from your iPhone. Made for iPhone hearing aids also feature Live Listen.

To use these hearing aids, you’ll need an iPhone 4s or later with iOS 7 or later.

"Bridge" accessories for audio streaming

Some hearing-aid manufacturers offer special "bridge" hearing-aid accessories that receive audio through Bluetooth from the iPhone and retransmit that audio using proprietary wireless audio-streaming technologies built in to some hearing aids. Check with your audiologist or hearing-aid manufacturer for more information.

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